If you’ve spent any time exploring Barcelona’s coffee scene, you’ve probably noticed that the city has quietly become one of Europe’s most exciting destinations for specialty coffee. Gone are the days when a café con leche from a corner bar was your only option. Today, Barcelona is home to a thriving community of coffee roasters who are sourcing exceptional beans from around the world and roasting them right here in the city.
I’ve spent years hunting down the best coffee in Barcelona, and along the way, I’ve discovered that the roasters themselves are often the best places to experience truly exceptional coffee. These are the people who obsess over every detail—from the farms where the beans are grown to the exact roast profile that brings out each coffee’s unique character.
Whether you’re looking to buy beans for your home setup, want to visit a roastery café for a perfect flat white, or you’re curious about the people behind Barcelona’s coffee revolution, this guide covers the roasters you need to know.
Nomad Coffee
Nomad is often credited with kickstarting Barcelona’s specialty coffee scene. Founded by Jordi Mestre in 2014, the story began even earlier—as a humble coffee cart at London markets in 2011. Jordi brought what he learned in London’s thriving coffee culture back to Barcelona, opening the city’s first true specialty coffee shop.
What sets Nomad apart is their global reach. They roast in Poblenou and ship to customers in over 45 countries. Jordi himself is a former Spanish Barista Champion who placed 15th at the World Barista Championship, so the quality standards are sky-high.
They have several locations around the city, including their flagship at Passatge Sert in El Born and their Poblenou café. The Coffee Academy at Nomad is also worth checking out if you want to level up your home brewing game.
Best for: Experiencing the roots of Barcelona’s specialty coffee movement and consistently excellent espresso-based drinks.
Right Side Coffee
If there’s one roaster in Barcelona that’s earned a reputation for precision and quality, it’s Right Side Coffee. Founded in 2012 by Joaquin Parra—a three-time Spanish Roasting Champion who placed 4th at the World Roasting Championships—this is a roaster that takes the craft seriously.
What I love about Right Side is their focus. They don’t own a chain of cafés or try to do everything. Instead, they concentrate on doing one thing exceptionally well: roasting outstanding single-origin coffees. They work from a beautiful 1993 Probat roaster in Castelldefels, just south of Barcelona, and maintain direct relationships with coffee producers around the world.
They recently opened a coffee bar in the Gothic Quarter on Carrer Arc de Sant Ramon del Call, which is a fantastic spot to try their coffees. Their online shop is also excellent if you want beans delivered—I’ve found their shipping to be fast and the packaging keeps everything fresh.
Best for: Coffee geeks who appreciate competition-level quality and single-origin excellence.
Coffee Hackers
Coffee Hackers is a hidden gem that’s become a favorite among Barcelona’s remote workers and serious coffee enthusiasts. With locations in Sant Gervasi (C/ Saragossa 60) and Poblenou (C/ Sancho de Ávila 8), they’ve built a reputation for meticulous small-batch roasting.
What sets Coffee Hackers apart is their commitment to quality control. Despite growing demand, they continue to roast in small batches to ensure consistency. They source directly from producers, ensuring fair compensation while delivering exceptional single-origin coffees from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Brazil.
The café spaces are spacious and laptop-friendly, with excellent Wi-Fi and natural light. The baristas are true coffee nerds working with top equipment—La Marzocco espresso machines and Victoria Arduino grinders. Their espresso is particularly outstanding.
Best for: Remote workers who want excellent coffee in a comfortable workspace, and anyone who appreciates small-batch precision.
Tomorrow’s Harvest
Tucked away in the charming streets of Gràcia at Carrer de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats 13, Tomorrow’s Harvest is a roaster that’s been quietly building a devoted following. They roast their own beans on-site, giving them complete control over the final product.
Gràcia has become something of a hub for Barcelona’s specialty coffee scene, and Tomorrow’s Harvest fits right into the neighborhood’s artisan spirit. It’s the kind of place where you can chat with the people actually roasting your coffee.
Best for: Discovering a neighborhood gem and supporting a local roaster in one of Barcelona’s most charming barrios.
SlowMov
SlowMov is more than just a roastery—it’s a philosophy. Founded in 2015 by Carmen and François in the charming Gràcia neighborhood, SlowMov embraces the slow living movement. Quality over quantity, craft over speed.
They’re one of the few places in Barcelona where you can actually see the roasting happen on-site. Their Giesen roaster sits in the café, and there’s something special about watching the process while you sip your coffee. Carmen and François source their beans directly from producers in Brazil, Ethiopia, Mexico, and other origins, and they visit the farms themselves to ensure quality and fair practices.
The café itself is a lovely spot in Gràcia—warm, unpretentious, and filled with regulars who appreciate good coffee. They also supply beans to restaurants and businesses around Barcelona and offer training for those who want to learn more about specialty coffee.
Best for: A relaxed atmosphere, watching the roasting process, and supporting direct-trade coffee.
Onna Coffee
Onna means “woman” in Japanese, and this roastery was founded by Anahí Paez, originally from Costa Rica. What makes Onna unique is their exclusive focus on Costa Rican coffees—every single bean they roast comes from Anahí’s home country.
Established in 2014 (the same year as Nomad), Onna was one of Barcelona’s specialty coffee pioneers. The café in Gràcia at Carrer Santa Teresa has become a beloved neighborhood fixture, and their roastery in Poblenou produces beans that showcase the incredible diversity of Costa Rican coffee regions.
Anahí’s close relationships with Costa Rican coffee producers mean exceptional quality and transparency. If you love cortados and flat whites, Onna does them particularly well—there’s a richness and depth to their coffee that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Best for: Costa Rican coffee lovers and those who appreciate a founder with deep connections to origin.
Cafés El Magnífico
For a taste of Barcelona’s coffee heritage, there’s no better place than Cafés El Magnífico. The Sans family has been roasting coffee in the El Born neighborhood since 1919—that’s over a century of history. The Cafés El Magnífico brand itself was established in 1962, and today it’s run by the second and third generation of the family.
Salvador Sans transformed the business when he took over, pivoting toward specialty coffee before most people in Spain even knew what that meant. He’s been a Cup of Excellence judge since 2002 and is something of a legend in the Barcelona coffee world. His daughter Claudia now handles sourcing and quality, continuing the family tradition.
Their shop in El Born is a must-visit. You can browse bags from origins around the world, and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable. In 2018, they also acquired La Portorriqueña, a historic Barcelona roaster founded in 1906, adding another piece of the city’s coffee history to their portfolio.
Best for: History buffs, a curated selection of global origins, and experiencing a true Barcelona institution.
Three Marks Coffee
Three Marks has quietly become one of Barcelona’s most respected local roasters. They’ve opened their own roastery and now supply beans to cafés all over the city. With three café locations, they’ve grown steadily while maintaining their commitment to quality.
What I appreciate about Three Marks is their accessibility. They make specialty coffee feel approachable rather than intimidating. You can buy their beans to brew at home, and the staff at their cafés are always happy to chat about what they’re roasting.
Best for: Approachable specialty coffee and beans you can find at cafés throughout the city.
Morrow Coffee
Based in the Sants neighborhood, Morrow Coffee has built a strong following for their carefully roasted beans. They’re a bit off the typical tourist trail, which gives them a more local, neighborhood feel.
Morrow focuses on quality sourcing and precise roasting, and their café has become a go-to spot for residents of Sants looking for specialty coffee without trekking to the city center.
Best for: Exploring beyond the tourist areas and finding quality coffee in a residential neighborhood.
Hidden Coffee Roasters
True to their name, Hidden Coffee Roasters feels like a discovery when you find them. Located in El Born, they roast their own beans on-site, which means everything is as fresh as it gets.
They source interesting varieties with unique characteristics from around the world, and there’s always something new to try. If you enjoy exploring unusual origins or experimental processing methods, Hidden is the place to go.
Best for: Adventurous coffee drinkers looking for unique, freshly roasted beans.
More Roasters Worth Knowing
Barcelona’s coffee roasting scene is growing fast, and there are several other roasters worth mentioning:
Cafes Ros is another solid local option for freshly roasted beans. Syra Coffee has small take-away spots scattered across the city, making their beans accessible in nearly every neighborhood. And Sensorial Coffee Roasters in Poblenou supplies many Barcelona cafés with their roasts.
Beyond Barcelona: Other Roasters I Love
While Barcelona has become my home base for coffee, I’ve discovered some excellent roasters outside the city that are worth knowing about—especially if you’re happy to order online.
Terres de Café (France)
Founded in 2009, Terres de Café has become one of France’s leading specialty coffee roasters. They offer over 30 specialty coffees sourced primarily from Latin America and Africa, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and fair treatment of farming communities.
Their online shop ships throughout Europe, and I’ve found their coffees to be consistently excellent. If you’re looking to explore French specialty coffee or want beans delivered while traveling, Terres de Café is a reliable choice.
Best for: European delivery, ethically sourced beans, and exploring French specialty coffee culture.
D·Origen Coffee Roasters (Costa Blanca)
Based on Spain’s Costa Blanca, D·Origen Coffee Roasters focuses on selecting and roasting high-quality specialty coffees. They’re particularly known for their work with Finca Barú Black Mountain, producing some exceptional single-origin beans.
If you’re visiting the Valencia or Alicante region, or simply want to try some quality Spanish roasters beyond Barcelona, D·Origen is worth exploring.
Best for: Exploring Spanish specialty coffee outside Barcelona, quality single-origins from their partner farms.
Tips for Visiting Barcelona’s Roasters
Timing matters. Most specialty coffee spots in Barcelona open around 8:30 or 9 AM and close by mid-afternoon—often around 3 or 4 PM. Weekend hours can vary, and many are closed on Sundays. Check before you go.
Ask questions. The baristas at these roasters are passionate about coffee and usually happy to share what they know. Don’t be shy about asking for recommendations based on your preferences.
Try filter coffee. While espresso is the default in Spain, many of these roasters offer filter options (V60, batch brew, etc.) that showcase their beans in a different way. It’s worth trying if you want to taste the full character of a single-origin coffee.
Buy beans to take home. Most roasters sell their coffee by the bag, and many offer subscriptions. Right Side, Nomad, and El Magnífico all have excellent online shops if you fall in love with a particular coffee.
Explore the neighborhoods. Barcelona’s roasters are spread across the city—from El Born to Gràcia to Poblenou. Visiting them is a great excuse to explore different neighborhoods, each with its own character.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona’s coffee roasting scene has matured beautifully over the past decade. What started with a few pioneers like Nomad and Onna has blossomed into a diverse ecosystem of roasters, each with their own approach and personality. Whether you’re after competition-level precision, a century of heritage, or a relaxed slow-living vibe, there’s a roaster in Barcelona for you.
The best part? This scene is still growing. New roasters are emerging, established ones are expanding, and the overall quality just keeps getting better. If you’re a coffee lover, Barcelona deserves a spot on your list.
If you’re looking for great places to enjoy specialty coffee while out and about, check out my guide to the best coffee shops in Barcelona. And if you want to learn more about how I brew coffee at home, I’ve written about my coffee habits and methods.
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